Reinforced concrete post



June 19, 1945.

w. H. wAsHER REINFORCED CONCRETE POSTS Y Filed Jan. 29, 1944 f5/.J INVENTOR. William Msc/5er:

` Hvar/rae.

the. same. t

Patented 'Jnne 19, 1945 i ziaraeli` .annoncen CONCRETE rs'r" willianfi-` Waschen-gFlintgMish.` Applicatonrilanuary 29, 1944, Serial Nos-520,150.

' i comme. (or tze-'ssl f 'Imis inventionfrelatesvto. amethodor forming reinforced. :concrete posts;l `and"4 a. post-formed thereby; the principal objectfbeingrthe provision of a post. :of this..'type offsuperior:characteristics and .to 2)..."simp1e` and L efficient manner of making t Objects .of `.the inventiol'nfincllide the! provision ofrfa' concretespost. having. a:metallicrreinforcel mentzlocated therein,n the connection between` the concrete and!` the-.reinforcement 1being such-that relatively differentl expansivefand` contractive movementiofi'the. reinforcement andthe concrete will not `rupture theconcrete; andi the provision of i reinforced concrete'i posts .ins which` the reinforcement is surroundedby the concrete :and a yieldable` coating;4 is provided' between` the freinthereof imbedded in .thesground vand supporting afportion or a Wire-fence which-is .clamped i thereto; i

"fin

forcement-andthe concrete wherebyf tom'itigateY the strains l-imposed-on.. the `concrete due to` changesY in theA relative dimensions of* the i concrete` and the reinforcement- 4due` to `clixa'ng'es in temperature.` y .i l

Other objects include' the provisiorrfof i afmethod of making reinforced concreter posts fby' means of whichthe. reinforcements-'are positively-lo# Gatedliny the form for the concrete consistently in afypredetermined position witlrrespect"to the exteri'or `faces Vof" the concrete; I the- `provisionfof a method. offormingjreinforced concretel postsf in 'whicn'sleeves provided lin the posts for44 .passage of` securing bolts or i screws .'"into the `reinforcement in theInalgproduct'providemeans cooper# n ating4 between `the reinforcement-*and"the Yform furthe post topositively lock and locate' the-post Within! the l form' dur-ingN the concrete poring operation andtheprovisonfof a' method as' above described yin: which? boltsll corresponding tol those employed in connection with the finished postare employed between the *fo-rml f and the reinforce-` ment rand pass through such sleeves-"to `positively locate' the r'einfoniexnent:within' the posts;

""jThe above being` among "theft objects of' the present` invention the same consists infcertain- `novel features of'.construction, .combinations of parts,` andistepsof operation..tof be.` hereinafter described` with referencetol theraccompanying drawing, and then claimed, .havingthe aboveg and other objectsiniviewf i. i .n In. the accompanyingfdrawing. which.illust-,rates` asuitable embodiment of the` presentrinvention and in which like numerals refer to..ll.`ike` parts throughout the several difrerentiviews,

Fig;` 1L is` a side elevational view` of aL reinforced concrete post 'constructed inf accordance; with the present"invention-illustratea-ashaving-"enema 55 tisuyisanaratingmwmyiela-urn1es:senescence` Fig. l2; .is lan. enlarged vertica1,. sectional View taken centrally throng-h.` a' post-of the `construction .shownfin Fig. l'. and aswlocated` within, the

form `inwhich .the concrete ofstheepost l isjcast; and, e i

v Fig. 3 is an.'y enlargedl transverse,sectionalcview taken on the linea-. 1 of Fig; `2toibettr-:rillnstrate .the` construction;

The present invention `relates to reinforced Y vconcrete posts or the like: and tojafnewiandinovel method: Lof` Iforming the.` same. l:` Reinforced-.concrete `posts have heretofore.- been.- proposed; and made; .but they have incorporated disadvantages which; asi far :as Iiam aware` have `not :hereto-fore beenovercome'. 'Forexampla a common` trouble `with reinforced concrete postees` heretofore com structed.- 1 has; lbeen that. duel to" .variationsz Yinf 'di mensionsof the.r reinorcementand the-zeoncrete dueto temperature changes itis; a` usual koccurrenoefxofl a concrete toq crack, `and oncefthesconcrete has: cracked` particularly; through: the thicknessthereof the strength. of thepost is obviously materiallyy reduced@ :Where the-rreinforcementds .broughtrelatively closeto :one: endfmofysuchpost butisf otherwise concealedforv completely imbedded in thel concrete, relativeV expansion i and contrac-` tion sofathei concrete :and tloei` reinforcementcom-` manly` causes the relatively thin: concrete endlcovering tovbefcrackeclvoff., thus exposing themetal-` lic .lreinforcementsxtor the.l effects off` `the"wea-ther and: fasi` suchf reinforcements areausuaHy made -of iron or steel, subsequent. discoloration lof theconcreteazresults; i i l In accordance the present l invention.: the

above...describedndifculty-Lof thewpriorarticomi structionsf `isnobviated'.Joy providing, zthemetallic reinforcement before. ithas been cast `in the concrete withyacrelatively `heavy coating:4 oftar,

asphalt.rorother similarmaterial 1having a rela- `tivelyzlvziw meltingy `point` which, while" remaining in: ansclid iorcsemie'solid. state'fat.the` highest. `atmospherictemperatures commonly/met with;.yet is. sufficientlylyieldablesat` the coldest atmospheric temperatureto whicln the` post maybe commonly exposed tofpermitpaslight amount. of .relative sliding.` movement .between the: .concrete and .the

reii'lforcernent during `relative, .changes :in .the length thereof. due .to the atmospheric temperature: changes; :In l other wprdsithis: coating on. the reinforcement` .and separating` it. from 1 A actual physics/iw Contact with. the concrete; or. .substam terially less than that required to fracture the concrete and thus prevent the relative change in dimensions due to temperature changes from cracking the concrete as in prior art constructions. Furthermore, in accordance with the present invention nuts are welded to the reinforcement and sleeves are provided extending between the exterior face of the post and the reinforcement in line with each nut sc that a screw. bolt or other threaded yelement may be lprojected through the sleeveland threaded into the nut for the purpose of securing some desired part such as a fence wire, mail box, or the like to the post'.

In the broader aspects of the invention the reinforcement may be metal of any suitable cross-sectional configuration such,` for instance, as I-beams, angles, 'T-sections, or the like, but

I prefer to form such reinforcements from metal l l after made in the specification and claims to pipes the obvious substitutionof other sections in place thereof will be made-apparent to those skilled in the art and constitute an equivalent v thereof. f

vReferring to Fig. 2 in which the structure of the concrete post is shown although contained within the form or mold in which it is made, it will be observed that it comprises a metallic ypipe lUwhich is molded centrally within a surrounding layer I2 of concrete. It `will be appreciated that the pipe I in accordance with the present inventionis provided with a surrounding coating I4 of tar or the like of a character previously described which serves'to maintain the pipey Il) out of substantial contact, or at least out of direct adhering relation,r with respect to the concrete I2 itself.4 The pipe I9 projects down- Wardly preferably to a point below the lower end of the concrete I2, or at least is exposed at theV lower end of the post, and preferably terminates a material distance short of the 'upper end of the concrete as shown. Preferably in order to ,keep material amounts of concrete out of the At desired intervals over the length of the l' pipe 'I0 nuts I8 are welded thereto. These nuts I8 are alsol coated withy the tar or the like I4, and preferably with a heavier coating than on the pipe lil. In `line with each nut I8 a sleeve 20, preferablyv of metal and of an internal diameter preferably greater than the diameter of the threaded bore of the nuts I8, is extended concentrically with the hole in the corresponding nuts I3, fromthe nuts IB tothe outer surface ofthe post. These sleeves 20, therefore, provide openings through which-screws, bolts or the like such-as 22 in Fig. 2 and at 24r in Fig. 1 may be projected intothreadable engagement with the nuts lI8 for the purpose of securing some desired part `or deviceto the post. Preferably the bores ofthe sleeves 2D are larger than the diameter of the bolts v22 so that during relative expansion orA contraction of the pipe I0 and concrete I2 the screws 22 or 24 will not act totransmit the force of the movement between the pipe and the concrete. l

In practice bolts or screws such as 22 or 24 may be associated in any suitable way with the device which is to be supported by the post and such screws or bolts projected through the sleeves and into the nuts I8 for Vthe purpose of securing such device to the posts. For instance in Fig. l it is assumed that a wire fence 25 is to be supported by the post which is heredesignated generally at 28. To accomplish this the wire fence 26 is supported in flat relation against that side .of the post through which the screws 24 may be projected, a clamping bar S is placed over the youtside face of the wire fence 2t into parallelism with the post 28 and then the screws 24 are projected through the clamping bar 30 and threaded into the corresponding nuts I8 until the clamping bar 30 securely clamps the wire fence 26 against the post 28. Thus the wire fence is securely clamped in position tothe post.

It will be appreciated from the above that the pipe I0, which, ofcourse, will expand and contract to a greater degree than the concrete I2 due to temperature changes may, because of the coating I4, move relative to the concrete. Because it is exposedat the bottom of the post through the concrete, and preferably projects therefrom, these expansion and contraction movements of the pipe I0 vmay occur without subjecting the concrete to any more stress than is required to flow the tar or the like coating I4, and the concrete is, therefore, relieved of any stresses because of such movements that are sufciently great to rupture it. Although the nuts I8 more or less interlock the pipe l0 and concrete against axial movement, flowing of the coat- 'ing I4 on the nuts permits suflicient relative movement to minimize the stresses that would otherwise occur. of withstanding relatively great changes in length due to temperature changes without rupturing the concrete.

In forming reinforced concrete posts there is, of course, always a problem, in connection with the consistent` proper location of the reinforcementin the final product. In accordance with the present invention this predetermined position of the pipe I0 within the center of the concrete I2 is readily and positively taken care of. In the' manufacture of the post described a form or mold ofthe desired cross-sectional configuration of the final post is provided. In the present case itis assumed that it isdesired to provide a post of substantially rectangular cross-section but in which the corners of the square are beveledoff. Theform itself may be made of metal or of Wood or of anyother suitable material but for the purpose of illustration it is shown in the accompanying drawing as being formed of wood. In other words, it is shown as being formed of four strips or sections of Wood, 32,34, 36 and 38,' each of a length'corresponding with the length'of the post desired and arranged to form a hollow square, the sections 34 and 36: being rigidly interconnected with each other as are the sections -32 and 38, the meeting edges lof the'sections 32 and 34 being hinged together as at 40 'so that the two sections thus formed may behinged outwardly away fromk each other as indicated by the dotted lines inFig. 3.- f

In the corners of the hollow form' thus -providedhand in order to provide for the beveled corners of the postgtriangular strips 42 are secured, in the case of the strips 42 between the sections The post is, therefore, capable 2,3 783,81 4! 32 and i?3I and between `the sections F34 and 36 to 38 ata plurality of transversely aligned points y over the-"lengththereof brackets` 44 and 46 are secured in spaced relation to the `member 36 and member 38, respectively.l The brackets 44 and 46 are formed from short pieces of angles, one flange of each of which is secured in flat contacti ing relation with respect to its corresponding section 36 or 38 and the remaining flanges of which project outwardly into spaced and parallel rela-,- tionship with respect to each other as indicated in Fig. 3. e

A rod 48 is extended between each cooperating Dfir of brackets and 46. The outer end of each bracket`44 is slotted so as to permit the corjected thereinto and the rod 48 is provided with a head 50 overlying the outer orupperface of the bracket 44 as shown in Fig. 3. The rod loosely projects through the bracket 46 so as to be capable of a relative pivotal or swivable movement` with respect thereto and on such projecting end has pivotally or rotatably secured thereto a cam element 52 provided with an operating handle 54.

The arrangement is such that when the operating handle. 54 and cam 52 are turned to the po- `of the notch in the bracket 44 upon which the two sections of the form may be swung apart as illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, in which po-` sition a completed post maybe removedfromthe form. i

In positioning the pipe I inthevform thus described the lower end of the pipe is received in a relatively closely fitting central opening 56 in a block 58 which is removably received in the lower end of the form as illustrated in Fig. 2 the block 58 being externally shaped in complementary relationship to the internal surfaces of the` form at this end of the same so as to provide a closure. The pipe I0 projects upwardly centrally of the form as indicated. The nuts I8 are welded or otherwise secured to the pipe I0 prior to the positioning of the pipe I0 in the form and it will be observed that the pipe I0 is preferably provided with diametrically disposed holes 60 in line with each nut I8 so that screws or pipe ID if necessary.

The form is provided with openings 62 in line `with each of the nuts I8 and a bolt such as 22` is projected through each of` these openings,

e responding end of the rod48 to be laterally proi desired.` The various screws 22 and"sle`eves or collars`-` 20 cooperate betweenm the form` and the reinforcements to positivelylocate the latter in the form. i

i Preferably although notnecessarily the `upper end of-the pipe `I0is provided with a plug OriolosureilIS andit will .bei observedfromlig.`` 2 that theform isextended upwardly beyond the upper end of the pipe IU to the extent desired in order to provide a wall of suitable thickness over the upper end of thepipe. i

It will, of course, be appreciated andas previously explained that before the pipe I 0 is inserted in the form it and the nuts I8 are provided with an external coating of tar or the like.

The pipe I0 thus having been coated and positively located in the form, the form is then iilled with concrete and after the concrete has set sufli. ciently A the clamps including the cam 52 are loosened and one of the form sections pivoted away from the other form section, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3, the screws or bolts 22 are removed, `and the thus completed post lifted out of the form. The end member 58 is then removed, leaving the post inl completed condition. It will Ibe observed that the lower end of the pipe I 0 will thus project below the concrete while the upper `end of the pipe is covered over by a layer of concrete. In practice and as previously pointed out the lower end of the post is imbedded in earth or other suitable material and am7 desired object may be secured to it by screws such as 22 or 24 either with or without the use of auxiliary clamping devices.

Because of the coating I4 on the reinforcement `Il) and because the lower end of the pipe I0 is exposed at the bottom end of the post, when the concrete I2 and the reinforcement IIJ expand or contract at different rates longitudinally ofthe post the coating I4 will yield and preventany` substantial stress being applied to the concrete which would tend to crack and break it loose asl so often occurs withprior art devices. Thus the concrete is enabled to remain as a single integral piece of material which may be utilized to the full extent of its strength in resisting bending or the like and which cannot be realizedif it is cracked or broken. In order to enable this last feature to be completely realized it will be `appreciated that the sleeves 20 should more or i less loosely t the bolts or screws 22 or 24which project therethrough and thus provide clearance between the screws and the concrete during relative contractive or expansive effects of the reinforcement and with respect to the concrete I2.

`bolts such as 22 may project into or throughthe e forcement member and imbedding the same through the collar 20 which is to be associated` `clamped between the form and the correspond-` ing nut I8 the pipe I0 willbe positively located at a. `predetermined distance from all; the walls of the form and thus centrally of the forms if` Having thus described my invention, what I f claim by Letters Patent is:

1. A reinforced concrete post comprising, in

combination, an `elongated metallic reinforce` ment member, concrete surrounding said reintherein,and a layer of tar-like material interposed between said concrete and said reinforcing member,`at least one `end of said reinforcing member being exposed and free of restraint at the corresponding end of said post whereby it may extend from or withdraw into said concrete during elongation and contraction thereof, respectively,` due to temperature changes, due to yielding of said layer. e i

2. A reinforced concrete post comprising, in combination, an elongated reinforcement member, nuts `fixed to a side of said member, a layer of `tar-like material surrounding said member and said` nuts, a mass of concrete surrounding said member and said nuts, said concrete being provided with openings therein extending from an exterior face thereof to each of said nuts,` and a hollow member lining each of said openings.

3.,A reinforced concrete post comprising,l in combination, a metallic kreinforcement in the form `of a pipe, the length approximately equal to that of said post, a plurality of nuts Welded to said pipe in` spaced relation with respect to each other axially of said pipe, a mass of concrete surrounding said pipe and imbedding the same therein,vone end of said pipe projecting outwardly 5 beyond said concrete, said concrete having holes therein communicating an outer face thereof with each of said nuts, and a sleeve lining each of said openings.

WILLIAM H. WASCHER. 

